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UA College of Nursing, Bethany House work together to help

Educational program helps disadvantaged women and children get

On any given night, more than 700,000 Americans have no place to call home, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

A 1998 University of Arizona report on homelessness says that more than 2,500 of these people live in Tucson.

But a program started by the UA College of Nursing, in conjunction with the Bethany House - which offers shelter to homeless women and children - is trying to turn those trends around.

Through a $25,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation, faculty and students of the nursing college have started self-help courses for residents of the Bethany House, 1130 W. Miracle Mile, over the past two years.

"It has been an absolute success," said Gale Manke, senior lecturer for the UA College of Nursing and a coordinator of the Bethany House program.

Through the program, short-term residents participate in stress reduction sessions and learn how to deal with violent situations. Permanent housing assistance is also offered.

Women who stay at the home for a longer period of time learn computer skills and are taught how to lead healthier lives. Some even complete their GED while staying at the Bethany House, Manke said.

Children of women staying at the house participate in first-aid classes, and learn bicycle safety and how to stay out of violent situations.

For the duration of the nursing college's involvement in the project, about 140 women and children completed the innovative courses.

Manke said that when the program first started, the women were wary about participating in the self-help classes - however, "interest grew as trust grew."

Programs like the one at the Bethany House are greatly needed, since women and children represent the fastest growing population of the homeless community, Manke said.

Since January, the Bethany House has been running the program without the assistance of the nursing college.

Tamu Blakeney, director of the Bethany House, said even though the UA College of Nursing is no longer involved with the Bethany House, the program it started will continue.

"It is important enough that we will keep on teaching (the courses)," Blakeney said.

Because of its importance, residents of the house are now required to participate in the program, she added.

Manke said since the grant provided the house with needed materials to keep the program running, no more money is required to keep it afloat.

Manke added that plans are in the works for the nursing college to replicate the program in other shelters across the city.